Torque motor

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a torque motor, especially a fuel cell torque motor, which converts the chemically stored energy of liquid or gaseous fuels, directly inside the torque motor while avoiding a separate installation of devices, into mechanical energy for driving at least one consumer. According to the invention, the torque motor is provided with fuel cells that serve as an internal energy source, whereby said fuel cells are arranged in the stator around the rotational axis of the motor in an annular manner. The torque motor is comprised of a rotor ( 1 ) and stator ( 6 ) with permanent magnets ( 2 ) arranged on said rotor ( 1 ) and with armature windings located in the stator. Said armature windings are supplied with current from a commutator ( 3 ) having electronic power components, whereby fuel cell modules ( 4 ) and fuel cell supply and control elements ( 5 ) are integrated in the commutator in a structurally modular-like manner. The permanent magnets ( 2 ) are arranged with a drum-like or disk-like design on the rotational axis of the fuel cell torque motor, whereby eliminating an external excitation of the electric torque motor in the rotor ( 1 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a torque motor, in particular to a fuel cell torque motor, which converts the chemically stored energy of liquid or gaseous fuels directly within the torque motor, bypassing any separate equipment, to a mechanical power for driving at least one load.

[0002] The prior art is for the electrical power which is produced from chemically stored energy in liquid or gaseous fuels in a separate fuel cell system, comprising:

[0003] a fuel cell stack,

[0004] a supply module comprising a hydrogen and oxygen gas store,

[0005] an electrical switching and monitoring system,

[0006] a DC/DC controller/DC/AC controller,

[0007] to be supplied via an electrical cable or busbar system to a conventional DC-controlled or converter-controlled AC motor installed separately from this system, which then supplies the rotary drive for the load (generator for electricity generation, propeller shaft for driving ships or a gearbox or hub shaft for driving the axles of vehicles) (FIG. 1).

[0008] The energy that is bound chemically in hydrogen/oxygen is intended to be supplied with as few losses as possible via energy conversion to the load, that is to say the processing machine.

[0009] Fuel cells directly convert (without any internal combustion engine or generator) the chemically bound energy to electrical power. Electric motors with permanent magnet fields convert electrical power to mechanical rotation energy, without any excitation losses, and with high efficiency.

[0010] The disadvantage of the prior art is the complexity involved in the transmission, by means of cables and subject to losses, of the power (DC current) which is produced in the fuel cells (energy converter 1: chemical energy to electrical current) via cables, switching and protection apparatuses to the conventionally separately installed electric motor (energy converter 2: electrical power to mechanical power).

[0011] The object of the invention is therefore to convert the chemically bound energy directly to mechanical rotation energy. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claims 1 to 6, which provide for the two energy converters to be integrated in one compact energy converter.

[0012] The torque motor is accordingly provided with fuel cells as the internal power source, in which case, according to one preferred feature of the invention, these fuel cells are arranged in the stator, in an annular shape around the rotation axis of the motor.

[0013] According to one particular feature of the invention, the motor comprises a rotor and a stator with permanent magnets arranged on the rotor and armature turns located in the stator, which are fed from a commutator having power-electronic components, with fuel cell modules and fuel cell supply and control elements being integrated physically in the form of modules in the commutator having power-electronic components.

[0014] According to a further feature, the permanent magnets are arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner in the form of a drum or disc on the rotation axis of the fuel cell torque motor, and without there being any external excitation for the electric torque motor in the rotor.

[0015] According to another feature, the production of the armature current and the commutation are carried out in the stator of the torque motor, with these being electrically fed directly from the fuel cell modules which are each associated with the stator packs in the form of modules.

[0016] The control and regulation for the fuel cell process and the electric motor power and/or rotation speed regulation are physically integrated in the stator.

[0017] Compact motors with permanent magnet excitation are fitted on the rotating part with only the permanent magnets, without any external power supply. The armature turns are located in the stator and are fed from modular power electronics in terms of the armature current power, clocking and direction. These power electronics modules contain physically integrated fuel cell modules, which feed their electrical output power directly into the power electronics modules, in the form of direct current. The electrical direct current is supplied to the commutator, which is likewise arranged in an annular shape in the inner circle, is electrically coupled and has power-electronic components. The insertion of the fuel cell modules in the internal configuration of the motor avoids external electrical/magnetic losses, and reduces the physical size and the weight. The direct energy converter without any further lossy intermediate steps facilitates the introduction of many further fuel cell applications in the mobile area of vehicles on land, on water and in the air.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a section illustration of the fuel cell torque motor.

[0019] The torque motor comprises a rotor 1 and a stator 6 with permanent magnets 2 arranged on the rotor 1 and armature turns located in the stator 6, which are fed from a commutator 3 having power-electronic components, with the fuel cell modules 4 and fuel cell supply and control elements 5 being integrated in modular form in the commutator 3.

[0020] The permanent magnets 2 are arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner in the form of a drum or disc on the rotation shaft of the motor. There is no external excitation for the electric torque motor in the rotor 1.

[0021] The armature current production and commutation take place in the stator 6 of the torque motor, with these being electrically fed directly from the fuel cell modules 4, which are each associated with the stator packs, in the form of modules.

[0022] The control and regulation for the fuel cell process and the electric motor power and/or rotation speed regulation are physically integrated in the stator 6.

[0023] The fuel cell electronics modules are fed by supplying hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen or air as the oxidant, and produce the directed and guided power for the armature, as well as water as a product.

[0024] The losses which are produced during the direct fuel cell energy conversion are dissipated with the product water and, if necessary, by means of cooling water which flows through the fuel cell stacks. All those parts which carry water are fitted only in the stationary, non-rotating part of the torque motor.

List of Reference Symbols Used

[0025]1 Rotor with permanent magnets

[0026]2 Permanent magnet on the rotor

[0027]3 Commutator with power-electronic components

[0028]4 Fuel cell module in the stator

[0029]5 Fuel cell supply/control element for each fuel cell module in the stator

[0030]6 Stator 

1. A torque motor, characterized in that this torque motor has fuel cells as an internal power source.
 2. The torque motor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that fuel cells are arranged in the stator, in an annular shape around the rotation axis of the motor.
 3. The torque motor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the motor comprises a rotor (1) and a stator (6) with permanent magnets (2) arranged on the rotor and with armature turns located in the stator, which are fed from a commutator (3) having power-electronic components, with fuel cell modules (4) and fuel cell supply and control elements (5) being integrated physically in the form of modules in the commutator (3) having power-electronic components.
 4. The torque motor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the permanent magnets (2) are arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner in the form of a drum or disc on the rotation shaft of the motor, and there is no external excitation for the electric torque motor in the rotor (1).
 5. The torque motor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the production of the armature current and the commutation are carried out in the stator (6) of the torque motor, with these being electrically fed directly from the fuel cell modules (4), which are each associated with the stator packs in the form of modules.
 6. The torque motor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and regulation for the fuel cell process and the electric motor power and/or rotation speed regulation are physically integrated in the stator (6). 